Hotels in Lucknow

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Lucknow has been closely associated with the history of India itself, particularly since it was one of the places where the First War of Indian Independence in 1857 emerged. Of this, the ruins of the Lucknow Residency and Museum are standing witnesses, with marks of cannon-balls still existing on its walls. The outcome of a long standing tryst with the Nawabi culture, Lucknow exemplifies both "tehzeeb" and "adab", each defining the grace, beauty and charm of a typical Lucknowi way of life. Home to some of the most delicious Awadhi and Mughlai food, Lucknow offers a great opportunity for those on a culinary pilgrimage. The renowned "chikankaari" embroidery has become synonymous with this city, available as garments or for home decor. The capital of one of the most prominent states in India, Lucknow continues to be a seat of politics, industry and a vibrant cultural heritage of central India.

Lucknow is a city best known for its delicacies and rich cultural heritage. It is a city which is really famous among filmmakers. Movie like Daawat-e-Ishq, Tanu Weds Manu, Youngistaan, Gadar, Ishaqzaade, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, and Omkara have featured several gorgeous locations from in and around Lucknow.

Lucknow can come as a bit of a shock to the uninitiated. Well versed with stories of the dignity and tehzeeb of this Avadhi queen; of the bravery of her citizens, who brought a colonial power to its knees — for a short while at least; given the promise of a city whose leitmotif is a lavish, leisured lifestyle, what the first-timer finds instead is the capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh, bursting at the seams and eternally chaotic. So, were all those stories about galouti kebabs and Lucknavi adaab, the promises of films like Umrao Jaan and Pakeezah all false? Not necessarily. There are really three Lucknows, and all you have to do is find the one you dreamt about. There’s the Lucknow built by the Nawabs — rich in colour and character — with mosques, imambaras and narrow, twisting lanes. There’s British Lucknow — colonial and stately. Finally, there is modern Lucknow, which purists refuse to recognise. It’s like any other concrete jungle in India, the traveller can give it a miss.